Changing the Chart Type

If you didn't get the chart type you were expecting, click any part of the chart, and click Change Chart Type; this button appears at the left end of the Ribbon when you select the Design tab. The dialog box that appears includes all the Excel chart-type offerings (including all the subtypes), with the current type selected.

Combining Two Chart Types

Sometimes a chart with two or more data series is easiest to understand if one or more of those series is plotted in a chart type that contrasts with the rest of the chart-for example, if one series is plotted in columns and another is plotted as a line. Excel makes it easy to create an "overlay" chart of this kind. First create the chart as though all series were to be plotted in the same type. Then right-click any point or marker in the series you want to change. For example, if you want to change a series plotted as columns so it's plotted as a line instead, right-click one of the columns in that series. On the shortcut menu that appears, choose Change Series Chart Type. This will take you to the gallery of chart types. Select the one you want, and click OK.